Family history project continues to make a difference

Family history project continues to make a difference

Last summer, a successful project brought together TechMates, Wigan Athletic Community Trust and a dedicated team of volunteers to help attendees of The Extra Time Hub explore their family history, while developing essential digital skills. At the heart of the project was TechMate volunteer Andy, whose passion for genealogy helped participants learn how to search for, evaluate and interpret information online while uncovering their personal stories.

The project was designed around three key aims:

• Enhancing digital skills
• Supporting people to explore their ancestry using online tools and resources
• Helping participants preserve their heritage for future generations

Through weekly sessions, attendees gained practical experience using search engines, online archives and ancestry websites, building confidence with digital technology in a meaningful and engaging way.

One year on, the impact of the project is still being felt.

Recently, Andy returned to the Brick Community Stadium to deliver a series of Family History Help Desks for the Latics Extra Time Hub. Four participants who had originally taken part in last year's project came back to share the progress they had made since the sessions ended.

What was particularly encouraging was the difference in participants' confidence and digital skills. Rather than relying on support to begin their research, all four attendees had continued exploring their family histories independently throughout the year. They returned with new discoveries, records and information they had uncovered themselves using the skills developed during the original project.

During the follow-up sessions, Andy helped participants make sense of their new findings, identify gaps in their research and understand what steps to take next. His ongoing support provided reassurance and guidance, while allowing participants to remain in control of their own family history journeys.

The return sessions highlighted the lasting value of combining digital support with a topic that people feel personally connected to. Participants demonstrated greater confidence in using online resources, improved research skills and an increased ability to work independently. The project's success was not only measured by the family connections and stories uncovered, but also by the digital confidence that participants developed along the way.

Andy, alongside the wider team of TechMate volunteers, has played an important role in making this possible. Their encouragement, patience and expertise helped participants take their first steps into family history research and continue their learning long after the original programme ended.

The follow-up help desks demonstrate that the benefits of the project extend far beyond the initial sessions. By giving people the skills, confidence and ongoing support to continue researching independently, the project has empowered participants to uncover their heritage, strengthen their digital skills and remain connected to a supportive learning community.